Saad Ghaderi, Masoud Maleki,
Volume 7, Issue 2 (7-2019)
Abstract
Infertility is defind as the inability to conceive after one year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse by a couple. Female infertility can have different causes that all factors can in somehow be influenced by genetic factors. Studies have shown that epigenetic changes play an important role in fetal development, oogenesis and spermatogenesis. During the growth of oocyte, follicular cells make a multilayer coating of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells are affected by gonadotropin hormones. The CYP11A1 gene is one of the genes involved in the production of steroid hormones in luteinized granulosa cells. The CYP11A1 enzyme in the progesterone prodaction path way leads to the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolon. Progesterone is an important steroid hormone that plays an important role in fertility and pregnancy. Histone modifications help to express the CYP11A1 gene. Trimethylation of Lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4me3) works to active transcription in the CYP11A1 promoterIn the present study, the level of methylation H3K4me3 in regulation area of CYP11A1 gene in granulosa cells collected from the women with infertility problem and also from fertile women giving oocyte was investigated in Tabriz Jihad Daneshgahi infertilization center. To do this, the Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and then Real-Time PCR were used to investigate the level of methylation.According to the results of the present study, the level of methylation H3K4me3 in the regulating area of CYP11A1 gene in the given infertile people doesn’t show significant difference in comparision with control group and no significant relationship was observed between methylation of histone in CYP11A1 promoter and number of follicles and oocyte.It is suggested that epigenetic changes in regulating area of CYP11A1 gene are not involved in the number of follicle and oocytes.
Telnaz Bahrami, Masoud Maleki,
Volume 7, Issue 2 (7-2019)
Abstract
Infertility is a disorder of the reproductive system, which often occurs after one year of regular unprotected intercourse with the aim of pregnancy. Several physical functions require the synthesis of steroid hormones, in which gonadal steroids (estrogen and progesterone) play a pivotal role in reproduction. Follicular growth and ovulation depend on the proliferation and differentiation of the granulosa and theca cells, which are possible in the steroid pathway after stimulation with the ovarian gonadotropins and cytokines. Steroidization is initiated with the transfer of cholesterol by the StAR protein to the mitochondrial membrane of the steroid cells, which is followed by a cascade of steroid hormones. Recent studies have highlighted the impact of epigenetic mechanisms on reproduction, emphasizing the importance of these changes in the early and secondary stages of gametogenesis. To determine the causes of infertility, it is essential to recognize the altered epigenetic modifications of the relevant gene and its mechanisms. In the present study, the H3K4me3 methylation level was evaluated in the StAR gene regulatory region in the granulosa cells collected from the fertile and infertile women referring to Tabriz Jihad Infertility Centerin Tabriz, Iran using ChIP-qPCR. According to the results, the H3K4me3 methylation level increased in the StAR gene regulatory region in the fertile women compared to the infertile women. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between the follicle and egg rates at the MII stage and the level of this methylation.
